Lachlan Morton raises over $200,000 for Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund with mega bike ride
EF Education-EasyPost rider cycles 1064km from Munich to Ukraine border in 42 hours


Lachlan Morton has raised over $200,000 for the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund through an epic bike ride from Munich to Ukraine’s border with Poland.
The EF Education-EasyPost rider cycled for 42 hours straight in order to cover the 1064km, and has more than quadrupled his original goal of $50,000.
He arrived at the Korczowa - Krakovets border in western Poland in the early hours of Monday morning, having departed Munich on Saturday morning. He rode through the breadth of Czechia and all of southern Poland on his journey.
“Well we made it to the border here,” Morton said as he reached the end. “Thanks to everyone who supported this trip, everyone who made it out today and rode, they made it a very special day. You know this marks the end of a chosen hardship for me, but this is symbolic of a hardship that is being forced on a whole bunch of people, on the other side of this border. I’m glad that as the cycling community we could get together and help support those people.”
The crisis relief fund aims to helps Ukrainians who have had to flee the Russian invasion by providing shelter, food and clean water. GlobalGiving also offers health and psychological support, and access to education and economic assistance.
According to UN estimates, more than 1.85 million people have been displaced by the conflict in Ukraine, with more than 2.5 million people also leaving the country, mostly to surrounding states like Poland and Slovakia.
A post shared by lachlan morton (@lachlanmorton) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
“I’m just trying to do the one thing I know how to do and engage the bike-riding community to help,” Morton explained ahead of his trip. “My idea is to highlight the fact that war is not a far-off problem. Conflicts are a bike ride away, all over the world.
“That’s the intention behind it, and to try and raise as much money as we can to help out people who have been displaced.”
Speaking before his adventure, the Australian said he was partly inspired to ride through witnessing the effect it had on Ukrainian teammate Mark Padun.
“That made it hit closer to home, having a teammate who is directly impacted by it. I found it hard to focus on trying to get ready for a race when something so significant was happening in the world.
“I kept thinking, wow, I could actually do that in one ride. So that was my idea. I’m not an overly political person. I’m not an expert in any of this. I’m just trying to do the one thing I know how to do and engage the bike-riding community to help."
People can still donate to the cause here.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hello, I'm Cycling Weekly's digital staff writer. I like pretending to be part of the great history of cycling writing, and acting like a pseudo-intellectual in general.
Before joining the team here I wrote for Procycling for almost two years, interviewing riders and writing about racing. My favourite event is Strade Bianche, but I haven't quite made it to the Piazza del Campo just yet.
Prior to covering the sport of cycling, I wrote about ecclesiastical matters for the Church Times and politics for Business Insider. I have degrees in history and journalism.
-
-
Richie Porte forced to abandon Giro d'Italia with illness
Ineos Grenadiers lose key domestique on stage 19
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tight on time: Five occasions the general classification battle was incredibly close at Grand Tours
A look at how general classification battles are not normally so tight at Grand Tours
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Lachlan Morton will ride 1,063km without stopping for Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund
The Australian sets off tomorrow from Munich as he cycles to the Ukrainian border in an attempt to raise money for Ukrainian refugees
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Abi Smith on the WorldTour, art and nerding out
In the last in our series on the new crop of young British female women riders Owen Rogers talks to 2022 WorldTour debutant Abi Smith
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
EF Education First-EasyPost and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB unveil 2022 Rapha kits
British kit manufacturers will produce similar pink kits for the men's and women's WorldTour squads
By Adam Becket • Published
-
EF Education-Nippo become EF Education-EasyPost for 2022 season
American team bring aboard shipping company as new title sponsors
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'As soon as the army came to Donetsk, they sent me away almost immediately': EF Education-Nippo give in depth back story to new signing Padun
War, dancing, art and becoming a professional cyclists, Mark Padun's story is quite something
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Lachlan Morton puts Alt Tour jersey up for sale on eBay
The EF Education-Nippo rider will donate the proceeds to cycling charity Pedaling Minds
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
EF Education-Nippo backtracks on decision to terminate Sergio Higuita's contract early
The American team has changed its mind after the Colombian issued an apology for using the wrong bike
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
EF Education-Nippo send contract termination notice to Sergio Higuita for riding wrong bike
The Colombian rider was filmed using Bora-Hansgrohe's bike, his new team for 2022
By Ryan Dabbs • Published